Optically-pumped sulfur monoxide molecular laser

摘要

An optically pumped sulfur monoxide (SO) molecular laser is presented. A near infrared pump light source generates a pump light at wavelengths that match wavelengths of a Q-branch or R-branch absorption transition of a b 1Σ+ excited electronic state of the SO molecule. The pump light is directed to a vessel containing a laser gain medium including gaseous SO and a buffer gas. The gaseous gain medium may be flowed through the region of output light extraction to remove waste heat deposited in the medium. In some examples output light is generated from any of the R-branch, Q-branch, or P-branch emission transitions between the v=0 vibrationless b 1Σ+ electronic state and the v=1 vibrational x 3Σ− ground electronic state. In some other examples, output light is generated from P-branch emission transitions between the v=0 vibrationless b 1Σ+ electronic state and the v=0 vibrationless x 3Σ− ground electronic state.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a laser gain medium comprising gaseous sulfur monoxide (SO) and at least one buffer gas; at least one vessel containing the laser gain medium; and a near infrared pump light source that generates a pump light of a first wavelength directed to the laser gain medium contained in the at least one vessel, wherein the first wavelength substantially matches a wavelength of any of a Q-branch and a R-branch absorption transition of a b 1Σ+ excited electronic state of a molecule of the gaseous SO.